Imo State Governor, ROCHAS OKOROCHA, recently took over 145 people on what he called a “business pilgrimage” to Turkey where he held several business meetings with the leadership and other segments of the country. He describes the exercise as a way forward for developmental needs of Imo in this interview with CHRISTIAN NWOKOCHA on one of the business trips…
Significance of the trip
Owelle Rocha Okorocha1
I must say that the trip was very wonderful and thank God Almighty that we were able to accomplish all that we set to achieve in Turkey. We were not there for a joke, but for serious business. In industry and good businesses, you must take right decisions and in right places. Eighteen years ago, Turkey was not as good as Nigeria; but leaders came together and it moved on industry-wise and became one of the reference economies in the world. If Turkey can do it, Imo State can also do it. So, we were there to exchange ideas and to see what we can do to partner with them to develop our state. A time has come that we must look at Imo not just as an integral part of Nigeria but a nation within a nation. If other states are refusing to grow, business-wise, we will never wait for them to wake up; we must lead and develop Imo for our jobless youths. That was why we went with many business men. Each of the local government chairmen must look for companies and businesses relevant to their local government; our business men who were there must identify a business relevant to Imo people. For this reason, Imo is investing $100 billion to support every businessman from the state wanting to do business with the Turkish government. We were there with our teachers to see things for themselves and impart what they had seen in the life of our children. We went with our traditional rulers to see the relevance of culture in development. Seventy per cent of the people in Turkey don’t speak English, yet their tradition and culture have remained strong. They were able to develop with this. No nation grows beyond its culture because every culture has relationship with God and the people. We plead with traditional rulers to do something with our culture and make them business-oriented. We were also there with the keke (tricycle) operators for a very serious orientation and to enable them reason beyond the ordinary way of doing things, and look for other smaller companies that could improve their lives. It was not mission to spend government money without profit.
We were primarily there to be exposed to the developed world in terms of manufacturing and good business, so that when we speak of radical change, my people will understand. The visit has made our people to know how backward we are as a nation and state. My mission to move all commissioners, local government chairmen and businessmen was a well-thought-out strategy to radically develop Imo. This is a mission that guarantees wealth creation and jobs for our people. All sectors concerned in Imo economy were represented.
Agreement with the head of businessmen in Turkey under the watch of Konye Governor, Muhmmed Erol
Yes. We met with the governor of Konye, chairman of chambers of commerce, chairman of trade and chairman of private industrialists. We visited their factories and business premises to ascertain their claim as industrialists, which I couldn’t have done alone or with my few government officials. It was that level of confidence that prompted my signing an agreement with the businessmen collectively, and government of Turkey was there to also guarantee the safety of our people, investments and other genuine relationships between Turkey and our people. It was indeed an agreement of a $100 billion Trust Fund. Imo people can leverage on this agreement and do genuine business in Turkey. Our people can import goods with minimal difficulties. This line of action, I believe, will fast track business development in the state.
Playing politics, seeking popularity with Turkey trip
My government is already popular. It has always been my dream to make more people acquire good education and become rich. As a governor, I use my position to ensure that as many people as possible visit developed countries of the world and make reasonable contacts for themselves. Travelling to developed countries will no longer be exclusive to the rich alone. My agenda is to commercialise Imo State. If I give free education to take children out of the streets, they say I am playing politics. If all I am doing is politics, then others should join me in playing politics. Politicians should learn how to positively expose those working for them. So this has nothing to do with 2015 election.
Justifying the crowd on Turkey trip
That was an excellent trip with the crowd and they are all Imo people. The crowd saw things themselves and was part of the negotiating team, with some of them looking for business to take home. Imo people are fast and professional in handling things. They made me proud in Turkey. It is about the people telling their own stories. We moved with personalities who can take decisions either for themselves or on behalf of government. People go for religious pilgrimage and government pays huge sums of money for that. Why can’t government pay for business pilgrimage to develop our thinking and industrialise our state and nation? For me, what we need in this country now is business pilgrimage because we have played to the gallery for too long. If we have one million Imo people exposed to developed countries of the world, Imo will be a better place to work and live. More trips for Imo people are on the way.
New way to industrialise a state
Yes. This is a new model, and you will see how it will go. Most times, our people cannot move for lack of government backing. If I cannot establish you, then I should expose you to establish yourself. It is a new business model where government opens doors for its people. Over 145 people were with me in Turkey and came back with the experience. They can now do business in Turkey at their own time, government having opened doors for them.
Reaping from the Turkey trip
In the next one month, Turkey Business delegation will visit Imo to ascertain our own claim of what is on ground in terms of raw materials and infrastructure. It’s part of the agreement which we signed. We want to partner with them as we prepare to open our industrial zone. If we can take up Turkey-made products, while other states in the federation come to buy them, Imo IGR (internally-generated revenue) will improve. We will add value to oil, gas and agricultural produce domiciled in Imo. From technical support to real manufacturing is part of the agreement we signed.
Imo cannot develop in isolation. The more we join hands, the better the nation. We can do a lot at regional or zonal level to solve the problems of security, power and many other issues that call for attention within Nigeria. The choice of Turkey is because they have maintained quality and their products are consumed globally.
